Tag: street harassment

Halos as Nooses: Women Bodies and the Ever Looming ‘Fear of Rape’

This fear regulates women's bodies, lays diktats for it and commands them to be 'angels' in their demeanour – all the time.

My poetry is too threatened and my voice long too suppressed to be anything but normal.

I wanted to step out, to run outside, to breathe freer – but I only end up feeling more suffocated.

On unsafe streets, lurid comments and the unavoidable male gaze.

After being attacked in broad daylight last week in Bangalore, I learnt that hurting me is finally going to come with a price tag.

How do you fight a system that is fuelled by an inflated ego, nursed over centuries of use and abuse?

When the city is rendered demonic, in reality and in our imaginations, navigating life on your own terms as a woman is near impossible.

These subtle forms of everyday sexism are linked to poorer mental health of women.

Staying at home puts women at greater risk of health problems – cities need to change to encourage them to go outside.